Missing my hometown...

Happy New Year to all of us!

I'm homesick -- which is becoming quite frequent during the winters in the US. This time of the year my hometown, Rio de Janeiro, is exploding with excitement, people, and fun. It's summer there, the days are longer and there is so much to do. We spend a big chunk of our days just hanging out at the beach, sipping coconut water straight from a green coconut with a long straw, soaking the sun and enjoying ourselves. So, what was the better way to replicate the sun-filled Brazilian days? Food! Better yet, cooking and eating something would bring me deep memories of the days I spent at the beach when I was growing up. Then I chose a very simple dish that is sold by street vendors and beachfront restaurants -- Garlic Shrimp. The smell of the Garlic and Shrimp brings back a sensation that the sun is shining and there is a salt warm breeze along with the food. Back to the dish, it's very easy and quick and tastes amazing.

Brazilian Garlic Shrimp

12 cloves garlic, cracked away from skins
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 pounds, jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon coarse salt
Black pepper

Process garlic in food processor to finely chop. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and butter. Add garlic and crushed pepper flakes to oil and butter. Season shrimp with salt and toss to coat. Add shrimp to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until pink and heads curl to tails. Add black pepper, to your taste. Serve immediately.